Windies blank Italy, make it four wins in four
West Indies made light work of Italy to win by 42 runs in their final preliminary round match in The ICC T20 World Cup on Thursday morning. It gave them a perfect record in Group C heading into the Super 8s – following their previous comfortable victories over Scotland, England and Nepal.
Skipper Shai Hope recorded his 11th T20I half century to earn the Man of the match ward. He scored 75 off 46 balls to set up a target of 166 on a slow surface in front a crowd of 40,000 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The latest result secured US$125,000 (BDS$250,000) in prize money from the first round.
Italy were rocked early in chase when a nip-backer from Matthew Forde knocked down Justin Mosca’s stumps, before Akeal Hosein exacted revenge on Anthony Mosca – after being hit for two sixes. The left-arm spinner deceived the opener with a slower ball for 19.
JJ Smuts (24 off 27) and Ben Manenti (26 off 21) put on a fightback, but both fell to spinner Gudakesh Motie (2-24), which ended Italy’s hopes. Shamar Joseph then came back and wrecked the lower order with career-best figures of 4-30 as he registered the best match of his career with four catches as well. Forde ended with three wickets for 19 runs – also his career-best figures as Italy were bowled out for 123 in 18 overs.
Hope’s crucial knock steadied West Indies ship early on as they posted 165-6 in 20 overs – a target that ultimately proved beyond the associate side. The captain said he was pleased with the team’s continued progress. “Well done to the team. Another good win. We’re now four in four and we have to keep this momentum going all the way through. From here we have to keep winning. I believe we need to be clinical with stroke play. We are in good shape going into the Super 8s,” Hope said.
The West Indies will travel west to Mumbai where they will face Zimbabwe in their first Super 8 match next Monday night. This will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, where West Indies have never lost a T20 World Cup match. Play starts at 7pm local time (9:30am Barbados Time). (PS)
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